A Look at the Polaris Long List: 37. The Weeknd – House of Balloons

Regular readers already know how I feel about this album. And you know what? I keep playing it and it keeps sounding better. The hype is real! Whether homeboy can do his thing live will be revealed at the Molson Amphitheater at the end of this month when the second incarnation of the to be annual (?) OVO Fest goes down with The Weeknd doing his first official live show along side hip hop heavyweight Rick Ross and Drizzy Drake himself headlining. Talk about trial by fire! In the meantime though, I hope my fellow jurors did the right thing come tomorrow….

The Weeknd – House Of Balloons by The_Weeknd

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 24. Miracle Fortress – Was I the Wave?

This synthpop album was definitely one of the albums I gave a repeat listen to and on the tight time schedule I was on to listen to everything, that was saying something. I liked that this album sounded like ti could have been released during the gold era of new wave and synthpop but it still sounded 2011 fresh. That seems to be a tough needle to thread for many of these synth, electro, new wave, no wave-inspired new school acts but Miracle Fortress managed it adroitly.

Download Miracle Fortress Raw Spectacle [MP3]

Download Miracle Fortress Miscalculations [MP3]

HIt the jump for a couple of bonus remixes by Diamond Rings and Pantha du Prince:

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A Look at the Polaris Long List: 16. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972

This was an interesting album to have made the Polaris Long List. It was super ambient sounding. I mean I dig Eno, Autechre et al. but honestly, it was hard for me to imagine very many scenarios where someone would want to listen to this. That being the case, should an album like this be penalized or especially championed for something like Polaris? I’m not sure I know the answer to that question. Do any of y’all have any thoughts on that?

Download Tim Hecker The Piano Drop [MP3]

Download Tim Hecker Borderlands [MP3]

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 10. Diamond Rings – Special Affections

This dude has been feted by the local press here in the T.dot for a minute. I couldn’t wait to savage him ‘cos he looks type ridiculous to me – it’s been a minute since there were flamboyant men winning in pop music, Cee-Lo Green, Brandon Flowers and OG Elton John notwithstanding – but I had to concede his album was actually pretty good in the end. Speaking of Flowers, this album was giving me a bit of a Killers vibes. In fact, I think with a top producer behind the boards, this kid could end being a David Bowie for the 21st Century, the songs are pretty much there, he just needs someone to help him make them sound even bigger and better than they are now. I know that’s a huge statement but I got a feeling about this dude (pause) Now who says I only judge books by their covers…

Download Diamond Rings Something Else [MP3]

Download Diamond Rings All Yr Songs [MP3]

Download Diamond Rings Its Not My Party [MP3]

Get to know Jeremy Glenn – New Life (Amtrac Remix) / Hello Summer 2011 Mix

Really digging this. Shout to Jeremy’s manager C. Hill!

MP3 Download: Jeremy Glenn – New Life (Amtrac Remix) by AMTRAC

And here’s the Hello Summer 2011 mixtape:

MP3 Download: JEREMY GLENN’S HELLO SUMMER MIX 2011 by Jeremy Glenn

More new stuff tomorrow, if I can get to it. Life’s busier than it used to be (the grind is extra real nowadays) but I try to at least throw some quick stuff up on the Facebook page too. Won’t you join us over there?